The mining industry in Canada is a massive one that offers a diverse selection of jobs for those in mining, ranging from engineers to geologists, to those in health and safety and environmental, to those in various trades such as electricians, drillers and blasters, mechanics and to those who will operate the equipment. Canada is a first world country and one of the wealthiest countries in the world that offers not only its beautiful landscape but quality of life and stability. It is also the eight highest per capita income globally. The mining industry plays a vital part of Canada’s economy and creates employment for many job seekers. Globally Canada is one of the top mining countries, because of this there has been a dramatic increase in the number of Canadians employed in the mining industry.

According to the Mining Association of Canada, there are more than 418 000 people in full time-equivalent jobs working in various facets of the sector. They also say that mining is the top paying industrial sector in the country, with an average weekly pay of $1 559, it is higher than those in other industries. It also creates thousands of indirect jobs for those that provide services and goods to the mining industry. Canada is also a country of outstanding natural beauty, with a wide variety of landscape from the mountains and the prairies, to the ocean and it’s never ending beaches, to the rivers and lakes, and the numerous provincial parks. Canada is the second largest country in the world. The winters are cold with a lot of snow, and the summers warm and sunny.

For those who are considering a career in mining in Canada there a couple of things that one needs to keep in mind. Firstly if you are from abroad you will need a work permit regardless of what position you are applying for. You are not allowed to work in Canada without a work permit. Being aware of the rules and regulations around employment in Canada and the mining industry is key, as this will determine as to whether you should even consider applying for a job, and should you apply for a job as to whether the company is even allowed to consider employing you. This will also help to avoid disappointment, frustration and creating false expectations.

The reality is that if you want to work in mining in Canada there are certain jobs that are considered regulated occupations in Canada. This means that you have to have a Canadian license or certificate to work in these jobs. The reason for this is to protect public health and safety. This would apply to Engineers; Geosciences amongst other professional job seekers, as well as certain trades such as Electricians, there are many others as well. This means that it is illegal to practice as an Engineer, Geologist or Electrician (amongst other professions) without being licensed in Canada. It does not stop here either, and each province will generally be responsible for setting the requirements for these regulated occupations. If you are trained in a regulated occupation you should verify the regulatory requirements with with the province in which you want to work. The Government of Canada has more information on this and provides a link to the Working in Canada tool which can help you find out if your career choice is regulated and provides you with the correct regulatory body or accreditation board to contact for more information.

The good news though is that not all jobs in mining in Canada are regulated. There are non-regulated occupations available for those wanting to work in mining in Canada. These positions can vary tremendously depending on the type or role, the type of mining and where the position would be based. For these positions hiring requirements and standards are decided by the individual employer. One should however always pay close attention to the requirements stipulated for the job, and if you are not sure if you are a fit, its best to then discuss with the recruiter or company. One also needs to remember that if you are from overseas that you need to have a work permit regardless.

One does need to keep in mind that even for non-regulated occupations competition can be tough, so there is no guarantee that you will be able to break into the mining industry. There are however ways to improve employment options, and one of the keys to success is through training. There are various training courses available for those wanting to break into mining in Canada. The Canadian Mining Certification Program (CMCP) is one of them. The CMCP is a national program designed to recognize and certify the skills and competencies of workers for non-regulated occupations in mining. These types of positions would be for jobs such as Miners, Drillers etc. There are also numerous certified courses and programs offered by EduMine that will give you the training necessary to help break into this exciting industry in Canada.

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About Susan Kihn

Susan Kihn is a Mining Talent Expert at CareerMine. She has over 20 years’ experience in the recruitment industry, having worked for major companies in South Africa where she also ran her own successful recruitment business for many years.

One Response to “Wanting a job in mining in Canada? What you need to know”

Jemark brady

Hello, as I’ve read it seems getting into a position with a mining company is very difficult. With this said I am still looking to get into a entry level position. I would very much appreciate any an all help with this endeavor. I hope an I welcome anyone with some good tips I could use to email me. Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely Jemark Brady

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